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| Sunday, 19 June 2005 |
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Security |
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News Business Features
Editorial
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Child soldiers - UNICEF vigilant
by Thava Sajitharan Executive Director of UNICEF Ms. Ann M. Venemen reiterated yesterday that the organisation would "remain vigilant" on issues of child soldiers. Concluding her three day visit to tsunami ravaged areas Ms. Venemen at a press conference held in Colombo told the journalists that the LTTE had agreed to work together with UNICEF on child soldier issues. "Representatives of the LTTE were very willing to cooperate with us" she said. The rebel organisation, in the past, was asked by the UNICEF to stop the practice of recruiting children for military purpose on numerous occasions. During her stay in the country she met with children and parents affected by the killer waves. So far gathered statistics reveal that women and children were the hardest hit by the tsunami. Ms. Venemen also met with several leaders of parties and organisations including Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. She met with the political leader of the LTTE S. P. Tamilchelvan to discuss tsunami efforts in the North and East. Later in her address Ms. Venemen stressed on the importance of having a mechanism to coordinate in order to ensure the resources for the tsunami relief being utilised appropriately. "It's important that we have a means by which we can address the problems of the people" she added. Commending the efforts and commitment of the people in the aftermath of the calamity she said "it was heartening to see how communities came together and worked". |
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